Red meat or white meat, which is healthier?

Which do you prefer more often, dishes that use red meat or white meat? Regardless of your reasons for choosing red meat or white meat, until now the two types of meat are still being debated regarding which one is healthier to eat. The color difference between these two types of meat can be seen, but is it different in terms of nutritional content? Is white meat better than red meat? Or vice versa?

Is it true that white meat is healthier than red meat?

Red meat, which is the type of meat that appears to have a red color due to the pigment that the animal has. Types of animals with red flesh are cows, goats and buffalo. Meanwhile, white meat does not have as much pigment as red meat, so it looks whiter and belongs to this type, namely meat from poultry and fish.

Although they appear to have different colors, these two types of meat contain various nutrients that the body needs. In fact, both are the main source of protein for you. White and red meat both have high levels of minerals such as iron and zinc which are essential for growth and increase in hemoglobin - a substance that plays a role in delivering food to body cells. So it depends on your taste whether you want to eat red meat or white meat.

Can I eat red meat more often than white meat?

Of course, anything that is excessive will be bad and a risk to health. It's the same when you eat too often and a lot of beef or other red meat - even if this happens because you really like it. In several studies, it is said that groups of people who like to eat red meat have a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Basically, red meat has been shown to have higher levels of cholesterol and saturated fat than chicken or fish. Meanwhile, white meat, such as chicken and fish, has a lot of unsaturated fatty acids and omega 3 which are good for heart health and can prevent various degenerative diseases. So what you need to pay attention to is the frequency and portion of food when you eat red meat, so there is no prohibition against eating beef, goat, buffalo, or the like.

What should I pay attention to if I want to eat red meat?

Actually it doesn't matter if you prefer red meat to white meat, but you must pay attention to the portion of the meat you eat so you are away from heart disease due to your high cholesterol levels. Here are suggestions if you want to eat beef, goat, or the like:

If your side dish at that time is red meat, then make sure that the portion of meat you eat is only one portion, or the equivalent of half the size of the palm of your hand.
Choose the type of meat that is not fat or a lot of lard, because meat like that must contain very high saturated fat. Sirloin, loin, or round portions of meat are usually low or fat-free.
If there is still fat stuck to the part of the meat you are going to eat, you should boil or grill it first so that the fat melts.
Choose healthy cooking methods, such as boiling, sauteing, or grilling. Avoid fried meat as it will absorb even more oil.

For those of you who suffer from heart disease or want to lose weight, choosing red pigmented meat as a side dish every time you eat is not a good thing. In this case, poultry and fish are still better than red meat. But when you eat white meat such as chicken, you must avoid the skin and fatty parts, because in these parts the saturated fat content is very high.